Waterproofing fabrics



\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. HORNER AND FRANCIS HYDE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

WATERPROOFING FABRICS.

SPEGIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,233, dated February27, 1883.

I Application fi led October 31, 1882. (Specimen-s.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WM. H. HORNER and FRANCIS HYDE, citizens of theUnited States of America, residing at Baltimore, in the county ofBaltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Waterproofing Fabrics; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates more especially to textile fabrics, cordage, &c.,and in treating the same after it is manufactured with a compositionwhich will render the fibers of the fabric stronger, water and acidproof, whereby the fabric is better enabled to resist the deterioratingeffects of time and the action of acids upon the same.

In carrying out our invention, which is designed more especially to beapplied to the manufactured article or fabric, we employ a compositionwhich is made up essentially of rosin and paraffin e or other mineraloils, which are the principal andessential elements which remain uponthe fabric. These elements of our composition make an essentially acidand water proof mixture, which, when applied .to a textile fabric orother material, will impart the aforesaid qualities to the same. Inorder to apply these ingredients to the fabric or other material, wemake use of benzine or other volatile liquids which will reduce and combine with the rosin and oil, so that they can be readily applied to thefabric.

The ingredients of our compositionthat is, rosin and paraffine-oil, thelatter being preferably what is known to the trade as heavy distillant,and also whatis known as Foots oil, though any other paraffine-oil maybe employed with advantage-these ingredients that is, the rosin andparafline-oil-are boiled together until they are assimilated orthoroughly mixed and incorporated with each other, afterwhieh themixture is thinned down or reduced from a heavy to a comparatively lightconsistency or liquid form with benzine or spirits of turpentine, (oneor both may be used,) or other volatile liquids may be employed.

The ingredients of this composition are used in about these proportions,to wit: to one hundred pounds of rosin, twelve gallons of paraffine-oil,which are boiled together so as to be thoroughly incorporated with eachother,

These proportions may be varied, without departing from the spirit ofour invention, according to the different fabrics and uses to which thefabrics are intended to be put. Benzine, turpentine, or other volatileliquids are mixed with the rosin and oil after they become cooled, toreduce their consistency and allow them to be readily applied to thefabric.

When the composition is applied the volatile substances, as benzine,disappear by evaporation, leaving the rosin and parafline-oil, which aredissolved by the benzine and thoroughly assimilated with each other, inand on 1 all fibers of the fabric.

After the mixtureis ready to be applied the fabric is dipped in. thesolution, or it may be otherwise applied, so that all the threads,fibers, and parts of the fabric will become thoroughly saturated andimpregnated. The fabric is then removed from the composition and it ismanipulated so as to remove the surplus or a part of the composition,which manipulation may consist of wringing the fabric or passing thesame through rollers or other mechanical means for pressing the same, soas to leave the fabric dampened and wet with the composition.

The fabric, after being dried, is ready for use, and while being driedthe greater portion of the benzine disappears. as hereinbeforedescribed, and which remain upon the fabric, are practically acid-proof,and tend to preserve the fabric from decay. They also render the fabricmoth-proof, and do not The resin and oil, 7

ric and render the same acid and water proof.

It also renders the fabric softer and more pliable.

The common varieties of resins, or those which are made from crudeturpentine by distillation, and commonly known as rosin, is alsoacidproof to agreat extent, and its qualities in this respect are notimpaired to any ICC great extent even by caustic soda or acetic acid,though it is readily dissolved by such liquids as benzine, ammonia, andoil of turpencomposition, and when they are applied to the fabric so asto impregnate the fibers thereof they impart this quality to the fabric.

It is evident that any fabric which is treated with the com positionherein described is rendered acid and water proof and is madestron gerand more durable. Though the fabric is rendered heavier, its pliabilityis not impaired, and it may be employed for treating all kinds of wovenmaterials or fabrics, as burlaps, canvas, fish-nets, cords, ropes, &c.;or the fabric may be treated after it is manufactured into articles, asbags for fertilizers, tents, awnings, netting, overalls, 850.

One of the principal uses to which we put our invention is to treat bagsso as to render them acid-proof and otherwise stronger, so-

that they will resist the deleterious action of acids as contained inphosphates or other commercial fertilizers.

This composition, when applied to bags, besides rendering them acid andwater proof, adds very materially to the strength of the same, and itdoes not materially change the appearance or pliability of the same, andthe bags can be handled and sewed with the same readiness as theuntreated bags now in use.

This application is designed as an addition or supplement to the patentobtained by as September 5, 1882, which is numbered 263,907, in which wereserved the right to make subsequent application for the compositionprocess or method of treating bags and similar articles or textilefabrics.

We are aware that it is not broadly new to combine with paraffine-oilpitch made from cotton-seeds as a water-proof composition, or pitch,tar, and paraffine as a waxing composition,'and that compositions fortreating leather to render it water-proof, in which parafline, tallow,and resin are employed, is not new and we do not claim such as ourinvention, as they would not answer the purposes set forth in our Wapplication.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The improved method of treating textile fabrics to render themacid-proof, which consists in saturating and impregnating the fabricwith a composition consisting principally of rosin and paraiiine orother mineral oils, which are reduced to a proper consistency, with avolatile liquid, and in removing the surplus quantity of the compositionfrom the fabric by pressure, for the purpose set forth.

2. A composition for treating textile fabrics,

WILLIAM H. HORNER. FRANCIS HYDE. Vitnesses:

J OHN GASSARD, THoMAs WAsHrNGToN SMITH.

